After three albums with Isobell Campbell, two with Soulsavers and one with The Gutter Twins, Mark Lanegan will release his first solo record since 2004 in 2012. Blues Funeral is attributed to the Mark Lanegan Band, just like its predecessor Bubblegum (2004). a real group hardly involved. Besides the singer who can be recognized by thousands, this CD is mainly a child of the multi-instrumentalist,
… producer and technician Alain Johannes. This jack-of-all-trades is also an important man behind the scenes at Queens Of The Stone Age, the band where Lanegan often appeared as a guest. However, Johannes has made sure that despite all the grunting guitars, Blues Funeral is not a QOTSA copy. With a good dose of electronics in hand, he sends the contemplative and emotional songs of the rock singer in a completely different direction. In Ode To Sad Disco the beats are completely appropriate given the subject. Later on on the album, however, the elegant synthesizers and thumping basses are a lot less obvious, although it once again works out well. Band or no band, Mark Lanegan renews himself on Blues Funeral and surprises friend and foe with this. (JE)more
